Palm Beach -- Victim settles with DCF in foster care sex abuse case

Victim settles with DCF in foster care sex abuse case

By Nancy L. Othón | Sun-Sentinel.com

10:57 AM EST, January 9, 2008

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-109settle,0,4649888.story

A 15-year-old boy who was sexually abused in foster care has reached a

$300,000 settlement in his civil lawsuit against the Florida Department

of Children & Families, his former foster parents and two private agencies.

Palm Beach County Circuit Judge John Hoy approved the settlement Monday,

16-1/2 years after the boy's adoptive parents filed the complaint on his

behalf.

None of the agencies or defendants Gary and Elizabeth Howard, who were

running a small therapeutic foster home in Palm Beach County, admitted

any wrongdoing in the settlement.

However, attorneys for "J. Doe" and his adoptive parents say records

obtained during the course of the case proved the allegations in the

complaint. They alleged that the Howards, DCF, Alternate Family Care and

the Center for Innovative Solutions failed to protect the boy from

sexual abuse during a two-year period that began when he was 6. The

Howards adopted a boy identified as J.G., who had a history of sexually

acting out, yet allowed J.G. to share a room with J. Doe.

J. Doe told his therapist that J.G. had repeatedly abused him. Another

child in the home made similar allegations.

"The tragedy in this case is that they were supposed to provide a higher

level of care for this young man," said Howard Talenfeld, one of the

attorneys representing the family. "In the end, they exposed him to

sexual abuse." The settlement money will be used for therapy, Talenfeld

said.

DCF officials, with guidance from a new policy from Secretary Bob

Butterworth, settled the lawsuit after reviewing the facts of the case,

said department spokeswoman Sarrah Troncoso.

"Since the secretary has come on board, he's instituted a new policy

where if the department is negligent, we need to take responsibility and

accountability," Troncoso said. "If this money is going to help a child

recover and seek therapy, then that's what we need to do."

Stephen Radford, who represented the Howards, said the settlement was

amicable and "very much in the best interest of this young man."

Attorney John Rine, who represented Alternate Family Care and Center for

Innovative Solutions, which was licensed by DCF as a child placement

agency, declined to comment.

Nancy Othón can be reached at nothon@sun-sentinel.com or 561-228-5502.

CURRENTLY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES VIOLATES MORE CIVIL RIGHTS ON A

DAILY BASIS THEN ALL OTHER AGENCIES COMBINED INCLUDING THE NATIONAL

SECURITY AGENCY/CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WIRETAPPING PROGRAMS....

CPS Does not protect children...

It is sickening how many children are subject to abuse, neglect and even

killed at the hands of Child Protective Services.

every parent should read this .pdf from

connecticut dcf watch...

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com/8x11.pdf

http://www.connecticutdcfwatch.com

Number of Cases per 100,000 children in the US

These numbers come from The National Center on

Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. (NCCAN)

Recent numbers have increased significantly for CPS

Perpetrators of Maltreatment

Physical Abuse CPS 160, Parents 59

Sexual Abuse CPS 112, Parents 13

Neglect CPS 410, Parents 241

Medical Neglect CPS 14 Parents 12

Fatalities CPS 6.4, Parents 1.5

Imagine that, 6.4 children die at the hands of the very agencies that

are supposed to protect them and only 1.5 at the hands of parents per

100,000 children. CPS perpetrates more abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse

and kills more children then parents in the United States. If the

citizens of this country hold CPS to the same standards that they hold

parents too. No judge should ever put another child in the hands of ANY

government agency because CPS nationwide is guilty of more harm and

death than any human being combined. CPS nationwide is guilty of more

human rights violations and deaths of children then the homes from which

they were removed. When are the judges going to wake up and see that

they are sending children to their death and a life of abuse when

children are removed from safe homes based on the mere opinion of a

bunch of social workers.

CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, HAPPILY DESTROYING THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT

FAMILIES YEARLY NATIONWIDE AND COMING TO YOU'RE HOME SOON...

BE SURE TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STANDS ON THE ISSUE OF

REFORMING OR ABOLISHING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ("MAKE YOUR CANDIDATES

TAKE A STAND ON THIS ISSUE.") THEN REMEMBER TO VOTE ACCORDINGLY IF THEY

ARE "FAMILY UNFRIENDLY" IN THE NEXT ELECTION...